Buying a 28mm Summicron Asph

[Nick De Marco]

Yesterday I bought the most expensive lens I have bought in my life, a 28mm Summicron-M Aspherical. It was mint used, latest version, but still cost - I am ashamed to say - just short of £2k.

I still feel somewhat ashamed buying such an expensive lens, and have promised myself after what has been a binge of rangefinder connected buying, including picking up a lovely used M8.2 very recently, that this is now it. I have a New Year's Resolution

I will probably sell the Zeiss Biogon 28 and old Ultron 1.9 s8, as well as some other gear, to make me feel I repented a bit, in the new year too.

I find it hard to justify spending so much money on a lens, but I have to admit I love the lens very much. I have been shooting at f2 a lot already on the M8, and did some black and white film photography today in the snow, just developed the negs... The lens is wonderous. And I can tell myself that if I ever decide I want, or have, to sell it, it will hold a lot of value.

I am a big believer that it is not the equipment that matters, but the eye of the photographer, but that doesn't mean that there is equipment that compliments even more beautifully your shooting style than what you may have used before. I also think many of us, on these fora, obsess far too much about equipment and far too little about the important part, the photos taken with it.

But there is still no denying that the 28/2 summicron is one of the most fantastic tools a rangefinder photographer, who prefers shooting medium wide, can dream of. As guilty as it makes me feel, I can't regret it.

I shall put the lens to good use, I have no doubt. It will be a regular feature of my Rangefinder Chronicles, and the projects I am planning in 2011. And if anyone decides they can afford it, and can put up with the guilt. I cannot recommend the lens enough.

I'm sorry for the self-indulgent GAS post. It's carthatic for me at least. But having had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Leica culture - loving the equipment (or much of it) but hating its fetishism above the photography it can produce - I have to accept I have finally succumbed to the conclusion that some of those lenses really are worth the hype.

[tjh]

The 28 Summicron was one of the two lenses I bought when I got my M6TTL some years ago and the Summicron was a new product. It's a great lens, especially on the M8/M8.2 and M9.

Enjoy your indulgence - You made an excellent choice, which is nothing to regret.

[leicashot]

We all need to vent some times, and this process is called 'post purchase evaluation/justification'. Make the most of it, especially at f/2 and you won't regret it one bit. I find that the better pictures I take, the easier it is to justify that purchase. If you go out and don't shoot anything special with this lens, you'll never appreciate it and most likely sell it before giving it a proper chance. The same can be said for someone going and buying a VC 28 Ultron and taking better pictures than you, thus motivating you to sell the Cron.

A good example can be made of the Nokton 35/1.2 where lately due to some good posts, I've heard of others like me that are giving up their Summilux ASPH's to go for this lens, because they've seen some great pictures. So at the end of the day, it's really up to YOU to justify it to yourself by taking images you're proud of, and not going out and doing test shots on boring subjects. Hope this makes sense, anyway....

Good luck with it and remember one important thing. Better equipment doesn't take better pictures, (maybe sharper FILES) but 'better pictures' is up to YOU.

[Austerby]

The great thing about these lenses is that they do retain a lot of their value: the cost is only really known when you come to sell it. For the time being its a store of money which may otherwise simply be sitting in a bank account earning minimal interest. As Marx pointed out, money is only "frozen desire".

The value you get from your use of the lens is the benefit you derive from the purchase and you're clearly anticipating a great benefit. The longer you keep and use the lens the greater benefit it delivers and therefore any loss whenever you come to sell the lens is put into perspective.

As for me, I bought the Voigtlander 28mm F2 and I'm very happy with it, but suspect one day I'll have to try that damned Leica lens just for myself.

[Benjamin Marks]

Congratulations. I hope you get the most out of the lens. In fact, that lens came out just about the time that I started to ramp back on photo purchases. The cost of new one has always floated just out of reach . . .

[Turtle]

As you say, with prices going up and up you are unlikely to lose much if anything.

I was in denial after buying a 24 lux asph, although at a good discount... but still three times more expensive than any other lens I have bought for any camera. I felt awful until realising just how many cracking images it contributed to an important project. Now that the pain has gone, the images are still there and will be for a very long time I hope!

Enjoy your new lens, but don't fixate on f2 and miss other possibilities stopped down. I rarely use my lux at 1.4 or 2.0, but when I do, well, I could not have done it without it.

[ramosa]

Nick:

Your entry reads almost like a confession.

(Don't worry--I go through the same thing. Currently, I plan--yet again--to sell my Super Elmar 18mm unless I use it on an upcoming trip. And I'd be selling it because 1) I never use it, and 2) it would make me feel less guilty about my purchases this year of a Lux 50 and Rollei 80.)

R

[Livesteamer]

Look at it as a long term investment. I got mine in 2002 it's always made wonderful images. In my 45 years of buying and selling cameras, ok, mostly buying, the bodies go down in value but good glass is a good investment. Joe

[daniel buck]

I wouldn't call lenses a "good investment", the good lenses just don't really loose a whole lot of their value like cheaper equipment does (not counting digital equipment!). If you get lucky enough to get one of the lenses that is rare, then yea you might make a good bit more later on if you sell it. If you hold on to equipment for 20 years and sell it for more than you paid for it, you've got to consider inflation as well. It may end up just as much a loss, or broke even. I wouldn't consider any type of camera purchasing an "investment". :-) (accept for maybe very very rare items)

What I would consider it, Good equipment (if it's not going out of style sometime soon, like some large and medium format gear) is probability that if you ever decide to sell again in the near future, you got a real good deal on rental fee :-D If I can buy something I want today, and maybe sell it a few years down the line for 80% of what I paid when I'm tired of using it, or looking for something different, that's one hell of a small rental fee for a year or two worth of use! ;-) If I keep it for many many years, then I've gotten good use out of what I paid for, and can still probably sell it (if need be) for a good price if it's a good item.

[Riverman]

Whenever I feel guilty about expensive purchases I just remind myself that some of my friends keep cars and motorcycles that cost more (and which they probably use less frequently) than all of my camera kit.

[MP/CLE]

My favorite leica lens...and the only one I still own. All the others were bought before the rise of the Euro so upon sale I made $18,000 on the m7, mp and the host of other glass...$2,800 on the tri-elmarit alone! For some reason I can't seem to let go of that one lens...and it also works wonderfully on my CLE's...I'm also considering trying it on the NEX-7, if and when it arrives.

[daniel buck]

Originally Posted by MP/CLE

All the others were bought before the rise of the Euro so upon sale I made $18,000 on the m7, mp and the host of other glass...$2,800 on the tri-elmarit alone!

Wow, I bet that doesn't happen often, haha! Good for you though!

[mfogiel]

I "went through" 5 28mm lenses before discovering, that I could use the Summicron with a smaller hood, so I finally bought it. It delivers quality already wide open, what is important to me for the night shots. The only other 28mm lens I decided to keep is the 1.9 Ultron, for its lovely low contrast rendering.

[arnulf]

I had to sell mine in order to pay for my m9. It's a great, great lens. I don't miss it that much since I'm more of a 35mm guy, but I still wish I could have kept it. I know how you feel when it comes to being a little embarrassed about buying something that expensive, but try not to think about it that much and enjoy your lens instead. You probably deserve it :-)

a

[sepiareverb]

One of the best lenses ever hands down. Once you get that first big print in your hands all shame will evaporate.

[som300+]

I love this thread.....so much. I feel guilty to buy more and more Len too. Many reasons above make me feel so good.

[tjh]

mfogiel - What hood do you use with the 28 Cron? I note that Leica now has a replacement hood for the Cron - metal I think - costs approx $350 !!!!!

[semordnilap]

I know you can use a screw-in hood–mine is from heavystar but someone a while back suggested one from japan exposures, for a bit more money. I don't know the difference...

I've also heard about folks using the hood for the 35 lux–square but smaller than the cron one–on the M8. I haven't tried it.

What a great lens it is... I've always been happy with it.

[noimmunity]

Originally Posted by mfogiel

I "went through" 5 28mm lenses before discovering...the Summicron

Hahaha, I "went through" four 28s before this discovery!

[viramati]

Glad to see you went for the 28 cron. When I had the M8 it was my favourite lens on the camera and now with the M9 it is what I use exclusively for my street work. I only ever use the hood with it if pointing near to bright light source.

[sepiareverb]

Originally Posted by semordnilap

I know you can use a screw-in hood–mine is from heavystar but someone a while back suggested one from japan exposures, for a bit more money. I don't know the difference...

I use the japan exposures hood on one of mine and the hood from a Contax G 28 on the other. The aftermarket G28 hoods are a bargain and work perfectly. A ø55 Leica cap fits on the G28 hood also, much better IMO than the slip on G or G aftermarket cap.

[tagheuer]

Talking about feeling ashamed, I just purchased a Hexanon 60mm f1.2.

The sense of guilt is still lingering, and I have a feeling that it's going to be for awhile.

[Rob-F]

Nick, it's a fine lens. I have no intention of selling mine. You made a good choice.

[semordnilap]

Originally Posted by sepiareverb

I use the japan exposures hood on one of mine and the hood from a Contax G 28 on the other. The aftermarket G28 hoods are a bargain and work perfectly. A ø55 Leica cap fits on the G28 hood also, much better IMO than the slip on G or G aftermarket cap.

Cool... thanks for the tip. Is the G28 slimmer than the Japan Exposures (which looks to be the same size as the one I bought from heavystar)?

I actually don't always use a hood with it as I don't like too much viewfinder blockage, but it's good to have the perfect one when you need it.

Do you know if there's any difference between the Japan Exposures vented hood and the one from heavystars?

[jplomley]

Sold my first 28 Cron Asph to fund an M9. Paid off the M9 and then ended up re-buying the 28 Cron Asph. Its not their sharpest lens, but it has plenty of character.